Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

This story was so harrowing because it’s the reality of most Canadians. We are probably connected to addiction in some way or will be in the future, and it’s great to see that some people are using their resources to leave the world a better place.

Scott Oake's For the Love of a Son is an emotional journey that left me in tears from start to finish. It's a raw, deeply moving tribute to his son Bruce Oake, a young man full of creativity and potential, tragically lost to opioid addiction. Through tender yet brutally honest storytelling, Scott captures the joys of fatherhood, the helplessness of watching a beloved child struggle, and the unimaginable pain of loss.
I cried for Bruce-for his humour, his struggles, and the dreams that were never realized-and for the Oake family, who faced an unthinkable tragedy with incredible strength. Instead of being consumed by their grief, they turned it into hope for others, creating the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, a revolutionary haven for those battling addiction. I won't spoil the rest.
This book is more than a memoir; it's a stark reminder of the devastating toll addiction takes on families and a powerful testament to the enduring strength of love. It's heartbreaking, inspiring, and impossible to forget-a story that will move you to tears and stay with you long after the final page.
A special thanks to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC copy of this memoir.

For the love of a son is the memoir of Scott Oake about his son Bruce’s battle with addiction. Respectfully and empathetic, Oake humanizes addiction and shows the reader that it isn’t just something that is seen on the news, but something real people (probably someone you know) deals with.

Many Canadian sports fans know who Scott Oake is. He was a familiar face and voice on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet, and many other events including the Olympics. In For the Love of a Son, Scott uses his formidable story telling skills to tell the story of his son, Bruce, who passed away from a drug overdose, at the age of 25.

As a father of three, I empathized with the struggles of Scott and his wife Anne to help their son with his issues. Bruce was a handful when he was growing up, being diagnosed with ADHD and a form of Tourette’s, and he began using drugs in his late teens. Things spiraled from there, and despite their best efforts, he overdosed and died on March 28, 2011.

I believe Scott told Bruce’s story with honesty. Parents make decisions for their kids with the information they have at the time, and sometimes you find out later that you could have made a better choice. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, but Scott said that they always made their decisions with love for their son, and you can’t do better than that.

I can’t say I enjoyed the book, given the subject matter, but I am glad that I read it. It’s an important story and For the Love of a Son is well written.

Gosh it’s been a while since I’ve written a review on here! Honestly my life has just been so darn busy!

I was graciously sent an advanced copy of Scott Oake’s upcoming memoir, For the Love of a Son, a beautifully tragic recounting of the short and complicated life of his son Bruce. Bruce, just 25 at the time of his death, died alone in a bathroom after overdosing. With brutal honesty, Oake chronicles the heartbreaking and often frustrating experience of parenting a child struggling with addiction. After Bruce’s death, Scott and his wife Anne worked tirelessly to open the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre, a cost-free facility for men recovering from addiction. Tragically, Anne would pass away just ten years after their son, but in her honour, Scott continues their advocacy. The Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre is set to open soon, furthering their mission to support those battling addiction.

While reading, I couldn’t help but think of my own father, who passed away in November 2022 from a methamphetamine overdose. There were so many parallels between Bruce and my father, and I couldn’t help but wonder if a place like @bruceoakerecovery could have helped save his life, too. Addiction truly doesn’t discriminate.

In honor of my father, Bruce, and all those who have lost their battle with addiction, I’ll be making a donation to both the Bruce and Anne Oake Recovery Centres.

Thank you to @simonschusterca for providing the ARC!

This beautifully tragic memoir will be available on January 21, 2025. Highly recommend.